XII 
SUNSHINE AND SHADOW 
One pleasant Saturday afternoon I was awakened 
from my nap by a sound as of rustling foliage, and 
the room seemed to be suddenly filled with the odor 
of fresh violets. I opened my eyes and saw a very 
stately-looking lady, dressed in a beautiful silk gown 
and a hat that was covered with gaily colored birds, 
all having their wings spread as if about to fly away. 
She was seated in the high-back chair, and I quickly 
climbed up on it from the rear, and was just ready 
to spring upon the birds, when she gave a dreadful 
scream and ran out onto the porch. 
At this, mistress came rushing down-stairs, and 
the lady told her with frantic gestures and loud ex- 
clamations what a dreadfully rude thing I had done 
to her. Mistress led her back into the parlor, and 
got her quieted as well as she could, but presently 
Budge and Toddy, who had been napping in the 
bay-window seat, also came into the parlor. 
“ Are all of these cats yours ? ” said the lady, with 
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